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Chapter 18:

Nick woke up to the sound of somebody riffling through his drawers. He slowly opened both eyes to see Greg, half dressed, looking for pants most likely considering he didn't have any on. Nick groaned. Greg was getting ready to leave for work. Nick looked over at the clock on his bedside and noted that it was still daytime. Greg was getting ready to pull a double. Nick wondered when the night shift was going to stick to just being the night shift.

"Where are you going?" Nick asked, his voice filled with sleepy.

He blinked his eyes blearily noticing that the black out curtains were still up.

"Oh, Nicky, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Where are you going?" Nick repeated.

"Oh, that. Gris called. I'm needed down at some bank. Apparently there was some big bank robbery." Greg said not looking over to Nick as he searched for pants.

"Why isn't the day shift handling it?"

"They're all backed up so lucky us."

Nick noticed the distant tone in Greg's voiced. Noticed the jerky movements and the way Greg wasn't looking at him.

"Greg... what's wrong."

Greg stood straight up. Nick watched as the muscles in his back tensed. Greg took a few deep breaths and turned around. He had a bright fake smile on his face.

"Nothing, babe, why would you think there was anything wrong?" Greg said evenly.

Nick cocked an eyebrow.

"Please don't act like I'm stupid, Greg. There's something wrong and I know it. It'd be better if you just told me."

Greg sighed. He walked over to the bed and sat next to Nick. He took another deep breath before opening his mouth to speak.

"Lockwood was shot in the robbery. He's dead."

It took Nick a few moments to figure out who Lockwood was. He didn't have much contact with the police in his job, but he'd seen the other man around. Greg had mentioned him a few times over the years.

"Detective Lockwood?" Nick asked.

"Yeah. Guess the LVPD can't catch a break. First it's crime lab blows up and then one of its detectives gets killed trying to save a kid while he's off duty." Greg said voice filled with barely restrained anger.

"I'm... I... I don't know what to say. I didn't even know him that well, but..."

"It's always bad when one of the cops dies."

"You've been around for more than one?"

"Saw it a few times when I was working with SFPD. Saw about two more when I came to Vegas. There hasn't been a cop killing in awhile."

Nick nodded. He didn't remember one in the four years he'd been working in the crime lab.

"Did... did you know him well?" Nick asked.

"I knew him well enough. I mean we'd get drinks after cases some times. It's a hazard of the job you know. You were around for Holly Gribbs." Greg said.

"Yeah, I was."

Greg sat quietly next to Nick for a few moments before taking a few more deep breaths and standing up. He walked over to Nick's closet and picked out a pair of pants. Nick watched as he slid them on and smoothed down his shirt.

"I gotta go. Gris'll kill me if I don't get there soon. You know how it's all about the job for him." Greg said.

"Tonight's my first night back." Nick whispered.

Greg's eyes went wide and he sighed.

"Shit, that's right. I was going to drive you."

"I can drive myself Greg. It's not big deal. They doctor's say I'm as good as new. You know except for some scars."

"I know, but..."

"But nothing. Look, I'm going to be fine. It's just one quick car ride to the lab. I don't need you to be there." Nick said.

"But I want to be there."

Nick smiled at Greg. He thought it was kind of cute that Greg got that helpless little boy voice when things weren't going the way he wanted them to.

"Well, it's the thought that counts."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nick was greeted with cheers and happiness. Everyone wanted to ask him questions about how he was doing and wish him well. It was slightly unnerving. He just wanted to do his job.

He was lucky to have Jacqui around. She could just sense that he was a little overwhelmed with the attention and she, Bobby, and Archie made sure that everyone left Nick's lab while Hodges carefully looked him over in his not so subtle manner. They then proceeded to make sure he got settled in.

"It's a little different in here. Hell of a way to get a new makeover to your lab there, Nick. Drastic if you ask me." Hodges said.

Nick smiled. It was nice to have the joking. Joking was good. He could deal with joking.

"Yeah, well, I'm a drastic kind of guy." Nick said with a smile.

"We tried to put it exactly the way you had it before, but it was a little difficult considering we didn't pay that much attention to the way you had things before." Jacqui said.

"I tried pulling old surveillance feed, but it didn't help much." Archie said.

"Guys, really it's not that big of a deal. It's just my lab area." Nick said.

"Nick, you're meticulous about your lab area." Bobby said.

Nick frowned at that. He wasn't meticulous about his lab area. Sure he liked things organized in a certain way, but that was just the way anyone would feel. It was easier to keep things that you used all the time in an open area that was easy to grab at. The CSIs could be really demanding some times.

"I'm not meticulous. Just orderly." Nick said a bit glumly.

All four of his friends rolled their eyes.

"So, you got to sit in on the big CSI pow wow. They come up with anything useful on this case yet?" Hodges asked.

"Grissom looked like he might have had something." Nick said.

Nick himself had checked over the DNA samples given to him and came up with nothing.

"They gave me a fingerprint to match up. I think I might have gotten an ID on one of the guys involved." Jacqui said.

"Yeah, well there wasn't much to do with the video feed. In fact Warrick and Grissom did most of the work." Archie said.

He sounded a bit glum about it and Nick could understand why. Sometimes it got on his nerves when the CSIs thought they could do their job and the lab tech's jobs as well. And it wasn't even like they had meant to do it. They usually did it completely by accident, but it still got on your nerves as a tech.

"Well I looked over all the bullets. Might have helped out a bit." Bobby said.

"And of course they haven't brought anything to me yet and I have totally no idea what is happening." Hodges said a little pissy.

Nick smiled.

"I'm sure they'll have something for you to do soon enough and then you'll be griping about how much work you have to do." Nick said.

"Please, Nick, he'd be griping even if he didn't have anything to do at all. That's just Hodges for you." Jacqui said.

Everyone laughed at that statement. Even Hodges let out a small smile.

"Nick..."

Nick looked up to see Catherine standing in the doorway.

"Hey Catherine." Nick said pleasantly.

"How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Fine, although I wish people would stop asking me that. It's getting annoying having to tell everyone that I'm fine."

"Sorry, it's just a reaction."

Nick nodded.

"Look, I was wondering, if maybe I talk with you... privately." She said looking meaningfully at the other lab techs.

They all seemed to catch the hint and piled out of the room, all muttering get well wishes and promises for breakfasts. When they left, Nick faced Catherine. Her shoulders seemed a bit tense and her posture screamed nervous.

"What can I do for you, Catherine?" Nick asked.

"I know you can be trusted with a secret. Look how well you kept that thing about me and... well you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, you know what off the record is...right?" Catherine asked.

Nick frowned slightly and shook his head.

"Good. I need you to do something for me."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"If it's one thing I can't stand on the job, it's dead cops." Warrick said disgust evident in his tone.

"Tell me about it. Guys risk their lives all the time to keep people safe and they get gunned down for it." Greg said.

"Yeah some justice system we've got going on." Warrick muttered.

They were on break for the time being, both not wanting to be on break, but not having anything to do. They watched as the news rolled the same story over again for people who hadn't seen in. Cyrus Lockwood, decorated detective gunned down during bank robbery. They even showed his picture a few times.

"Shouldn't you be with Nick." Warrick asked.

Greg frowned and shook his head.

"Contrary to popular belief, I don't spend my every waking moment with Nicky. Besides I think he's working." Greg said.

"Really, could have fooled me."

"This is about going out last week. Look things are going to be a little different now that me and Nicky are together you do realize that right. I can't exactly be your wingman anymore."

"Man, it's cool and all. He was injured and thought I don't get the appeal with Nick, I do get the appeal to play doctor-patient." Warrick said, smirk on his face.

Greg rolled his eyes.

"Not that it's any of your business, but we haven't done anything dirty."

Warrick gave Greg a questioning look.

"Okay, we've done dirty things, but not since he was hurt. I don't think now's really the right time for that kind of stuff."

"Really."

"Yeah he was just in a lab explosion, Warrick. And even if we wanted to, his family was kind of camping out at our... they were camping out." Greg said.

He hoped Warrick hadn't caught on to the little slip, but that was really wishful thinking. He was talking to a CSI after all.

"Did you ever go home, Greg?" Warrick asked.

"I just ran over there to get some clothes and stuff. Nick needed me to be there with him."

"Dude, I think you've entered the realm into very serious. Just like you to do it in under two months."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you and Nick might as well get matching rings and tuxes and make it official."

"You don't think it's too soon?" Greg asked.

Warrick rested his chin on his hand, elbow balancing on the break room table. He looked to be in deep thought. He stared at Greg intently, eyes roaming over Greg and Greg felt just a little ill at ease at the attention. He fidgeted in his seat slightly before Warrick took a drink of his coffee and cleared his throat.

"Way I see it, and this is just from my observations, you really love Nick. And Nick's been in love with you since the moment he saw you. It was kind of freaky how he'd stare at you through the glass thinking no one was watching. I had half a mind to hit you over the head cause you were being so oblivious."

Greg blushed a little. He hadn't really noticed that Nick had been staring when he thought no one was looking because Greg had been to busy doing the exact same thing.

"So, too soon, maybe by any other standards I say yes, but when it comes to you Sanders, you and Stokes, well those ain't regular standards." Warrick said.

Greg smiled.

"Well, good. I was afraid I was moving too fast."

"Yeah, well, you're not. And I don't think you need anyone to tell you that you're moving at just a fine pace. I don't think you'd listen even if someone tried to tell you otherwise."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Greg said laughing slightly.

"Course I'm going to have to find another wingman."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine on your own."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was when the case started to get really hot that Nick noticed it. When he'd first stepped into the lab that evening they'd been fine. In fact he drove to the lab without a single shake. He almost let out a triumphant wail at that fact.

He'd settled down and started working. At first they'd had him doing easy things, things he could do in his sleep if he really focused hard enough. His hands hadn't shaken once. He'd even sat down and had dinner with the team, Greg fussing over him a bit before letting him eat in peace.

No one had stared at his gauze covered neck or the big Band-Aid on his cheek. They'd treated him just like they'd always treated him, no awkward silences or distressing questions. It was nice to just be able to work and he was glad all the well-wishers had gotten it out of their systems so he could work in peace.

But then he'd discovered something big. Something that might have impacted the case and give them more evidence against their only suspect, Sam Braun. He'd tried to remain calm. He'd tried to get them to stop shaking, but it was almost near impossible to get them to stop when they started.

"Nick, your hands are shaking." Grissom said.

He'd said it like someone would say the sky is blue or the clouds are white. Nick shook his head and sighed.

"No, they aren't."

Deniability would only work for so long, but if he could get them to stop shaking at that very second, maybe Grissom would leave him alone.

"Yes, they are."

Again it was stated like a fact. Nick shook his head again and clenched his hands into fists.

"The doctor's said it was because of the shock. You know from the explosion. Said that it was actually a good thing. That it meant my body was healing itself or adjusting or something. He didn't quite say how long it would take to go away, but he made it sound like it should have already gone away by now."

Grissom nodded.

"Is it affecting your work?"

"No, not really. I mean... I'm dealing with it."

Grissom shook his head and sighed.

"If you ever feel like talking, Nick, I'm here for you."

It had been generous of him to say that. It had been thoughtful and kind and nice of him to say that. Nick nodded again and went back to his business, not stopping to do much except go to the bathroom once and when the end of shift came and he looked around for Greg and didn't find him, Nick went to the bathroom again. Only this time, this time Nick put his hands under the freezing cold spray of the sink, hands shaking and he tried to make them stop.

"They'll stop shaking."

Nick heard a voice behind him and didn't need to turn around to see who it was, he didn't need to look up into the mirror. He felt strong arms wrap around his waist and squeeze him.

"How'd you know I was in here?"

"Heard through the grapevine that Grissom caught you with your hands shaking."

"That still doesn't explain why you would know I was in here."

"I took a wild guess. What do you think freezing your hands is going to do anyway."

"Nothing, anything, I don't know."

"Nicky, they're going to stop shaking."

"But what if they don't." Nick asked, voice barely above a whisper and he sounded helpless to his own ears.

He heard Greg sigh, hands stroking Nick's stomach lightly. Nick still hadn't looked up to face him.

"They will." Greg said insistently, his voice right in Nick's ear.

"But what if they..."

"They will, okay. They're going to stop. You just have to give it some time."

Nick looked up, his eyes locking with the mirrored image of Greg behind him. He could feel tears stinging in his eyes and he didn't want to cry in front of his mom, but his mom wasn't there anymore. He mom was gone and it was just him and Greg and he never felt as safe with anyone as he did with Greg.

He wanted to lean back and push his back against Greg's chest, but he didn't think his back could take it.

"I've given it time and they haven't stopped. I'm sick of them shaking, Greg. After Grissom found out... they were shaking so bad I could barely hold my tools. I told him that I could do my job and I can't."

"So, maybe you should take a few more days off. I don't think anyone would mind."

"I can't, Greg."

"You can, you're just too stubborn to see it."

"No, I can't... I just wish they would stop shaking." Nick said.

He felt a single tear start to roll down his cheek. He felt Greg's finger wipe it away. He took in a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He didn't want to cry at the crime lab. If he was going to cry, he was going to cry in private.

"Come on, baby, let's go home."

"Okay."

Chapter 19

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